Conventional Energy Sources

Subject description

Hydroelectric power plants

Basics of hydrodynamics, water flow in pipes and channels, basics of turbo machines, design and operating characteristics of turbines, turbine control, dams and barriers, hydraulic hydroelectric schemes, types of hydroelectric power plants regarding accumulation, water heights and flow, and mode of operation.

Thermal power stations

Basics of thermodynamics, combustion processes and steam boilers, process efficiency, characteristics of steam and gas turbines, problems of emissions and impact to the environment, systems to reduce emissions of thermal power plants.

Nuclear power plants

Fundamentals of nuclear reactions, relation between mass and energy, characteristics of the most common types of nuclear reactors, operation of reactors, nuclear power plant systems, natural radiation and radiation protection, radioactive waste, their effects to the environment and disposal, nuclear power plants safety, risk assessment methods.

The subject is taught in programs

Objectives and competences

Student will learn basic mechanisms of primary energy conversion to electric energy with classic technologies. Student will be capable to assess energy potentials regarding their conversion technologies into electric energy. Student will learn structure and functions of components and their interactions within conventional power plants. The problems and possible solutions regarding the spatial planning related with electric power systems will be communicated. Student will learn theoretical mathematical models of the processes of converting the energy in power plants and the related simplifications of complex expressions where appropriate.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and exercises. Part of the pedagogical process will be carried out with the help of ICT technologies and the opportunities they offer.

Expected study results

Student will be capable to:

– calculate conversion of primary energy into electric energy in classical power plants,

– derive the basic equations, which represent the physical processes in power plants,

– sketch the plant operation processes and their main components,

– assess efficiency of processes related to energy conversion,

– interpret the operating parameters of classical sources of energy,

– solve the complex technical problems in the field of conversion to electric power in hydroelectric power plants, thermal power plants and nuclear power plants.

Basic sources and literature

  1. B. Orel: Energetski pretvorniki I, Založba FER, Ljubljana 1992
  2. B. Orel: Energetski pretvorniki II, Založba FER, Ljubljana 1993
  3. R. K. Rajput, Power Plant Engineering, Laxmi Publications, Fourth edition, 2008
  4. G. Kessler, Sustainable and Safe Nuclear Fission Energy, Springer 2012

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University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Tržaška cesta 25, 1000 Ljubljana

E:  dekanat@fe.uni-lj.si T:  01 4768 411